Tara Slone

Well, I live a little bit outside downtown, but I understand that the streets were pretty packed in spite of a lot of rain last night. So this is a city that has not won a Stanley Cup since 1967. This is a country that has not won a Stanley Cup since 1993. So fans here are really hungry. And like you said, the Leafs have this kind of playoff curse that they tend to get in their own way about it.

Well, I live a little bit outside downtown, but I understand that the streets were pretty packed in spite of a lot of rain last night. So this is a city that has not won a Stanley Cup since 1967. This is a country that has not won a Stanley Cup since 1993. So fans here are really hungry. And like you said, the Leafs have this kind of playoff curse that they tend to get in their own way about it.

And then fans are really quick to also jump on that. So It almost happened. But I think last night they looked it was very decisive and it bodes well for the next round, which is going to be a challenge for sure.

And then fans are really quick to also jump on that. So It almost happened. But I think last night they looked it was very decisive and it bodes well for the next round, which is going to be a challenge for sure.

Absolutely. I mean, it was a great season for Canada. The Four Nations victory also buoyed the country.

Absolutely. I mean, it was a great season for Canada. The Four Nations victory also buoyed the country.

Yeah, I mean, so you get the sense. Hockey is a great big deal everywhere here. It doesn't matter, you know, walk down the street if there's a Stanley Cup playoff game on. there's going to be noise. So it's, it's everywhere. It's definitely, you know, hockey is, is it for us unlike South of the border, at least not everywhere.

Yeah, I mean, so you get the sense. Hockey is a great big deal everywhere here. It doesn't matter, you know, walk down the street if there's a Stanley Cup playoff game on. there's going to be noise. So it's, it's everywhere. It's definitely, you know, hockey is, is it for us unlike South of the border, at least not everywhere.

So yeah, I think there is some optimism, but also, you know, the same, same fears, right. That, that will make it to the finish line, but won't quite get over it. So I think there's reason to be optimistic, but you know, a couple of teams are making me nervous. So yeah, I think Winnipeg is also falling for that curse, the Hellebuck curse, too.

So yeah, I think there is some optimism, but also, you know, the same, same fears, right. That, that will make it to the finish line, but won't quite get over it. So I think there's reason to be optimistic, but you know, a couple of teams are making me nervous. So yeah, I think Winnipeg is also falling for that curse, the Hellebuck curse, too.

So we're a little worried about them, but it can happen.

So we're a little worried about them, but it can happen.

I don't think we're that protective of the Stanley Cup. Listen, I think it's been in much more disgusting places. So at least it had a little saline wash.

I don't think we're that protective of the Stanley Cup. Listen, I think it's been in much more disgusting places. So at least it had a little saline wash.

Exactly.

Exactly.

Well, I think that they were really calling upon the team to go beyond their superstars, and I think we started to see that this is a team with a lot of depth. So we know that scoring is not going to be the issue for them. Ekholm will still be out for the second round, so that is definitely the nerves lie in defense and in goaltending.

Well, I think that they were really calling upon the team to go beyond their superstars, and I think we started to see that this is a team with a lot of depth. So we know that scoring is not going to be the issue for them. Ekholm will still be out for the second round, so that is definitely the nerves lie in defense and in goaltending.

But as long as the superstars can keep scoring and there's some depth scoring going, And I think I think they can really I think they're favored like third in terms of taking the Stanley Cup at this point. So I think there is a lot of faith in this team.

But as long as the superstars can keep scoring and there's some depth scoring going, And I think I think they can really I think they're favored like third in terms of taking the Stanley Cup at this point. So I think there is a lot of faith in this team.

Oh, I think they're going to get better next year, but I think it was really fun to watch. Obviously, when a team loses a playoff series, it doesn't feel good, and it's no consolation to say, but this was so promising. But it is. I mean, they're such a young team. This is where I would love to see the San Jose Sharks win. next year or the year after.

Oh, I think they're going to get better next year, but I think it was really fun to watch. Obviously, when a team loses a playoff series, it doesn't feel good, and it's no consolation to say, but this was so promising. But it is. I mean, they're such a young team. This is where I would love to see the San Jose Sharks win. next year or the year after.

But yeah, this is a team that absolutely, I think they surprised everybody in such a pleasant way. And I think next year could be really exciting for them.

But yeah, this is a team that absolutely, I think they surprised everybody in such a pleasant way. And I think next year could be really exciting for them.

He is as reported. Absolutely. I mean, he was from the first time he stepped on the ice with the San Jose Sharks. You know, what's funny for me, kind of seeing him up close, you know, he and Will Smith are attached at the hip. They're kids, you know, like you just I see them playing soccer together outside the locker room and they're giggling, right? They're children, right?

He is as reported. Absolutely. I mean, he was from the first time he stepped on the ice with the San Jose Sharks. You know, what's funny for me, kind of seeing him up close, you know, he and Will Smith are attached at the hip. They're kids, you know, like you just I see them playing soccer together outside the locker room and they're giggling, right? They're children, right?

Um, but when it comes to hockey and the guy hates to lose, um, he has so much hockey. His IQ is so intensely high. Um, he's got such an aptitude for, for learning and he's a natural leader. I mean, he's not going to be the captain next year. I think he's not quite ready for that just in terms of his Asian experience, but he could be, and he is a leader on and off the ice.

Um, but when it comes to hockey and the guy hates to lose, um, he has so much hockey. His IQ is so intensely high. Um, he's got such an aptitude for, for learning and he's a natural leader. I mean, he's not going to be the captain next year. I think he's not quite ready for that just in terms of his Asian experience, but he could be, and he is a leader on and off the ice.

Um, he learns from his mistakes and, um, Man, he is really good.

Um, he learns from his mistakes and, um, Man, he is really good.

Yeah, I mean, I have to think so. You know, your faith has to be in your GM. And Mike Greer seems to be really building this team from the ground up. I think that this is a long-term goal. I mean, I think we, of course, want to see them make the playoffs next year. But when you look at, first of all, the Barracuda have moved on to the second round of the playoffs. So there's a lot of...

Yeah, I mean, I have to think so. You know, your faith has to be in your GM. And Mike Greer seems to be really building this team from the ground up. I think that this is a long-term goal. I mean, I think we, of course, want to see them make the playoffs next year. But when you look at, first of all, the Barracuda have moved on to the second round of the playoffs. So there's a lot of...

great players in that pipeline, but coming up from the OHL and from overseas. So I just, of course, like we all want immediate results. And I think what Mike Greer did at the trade deadline showed that they are committed to the long game. For sure, they could have kind of stacked the team and made them more viable sooner. But I don't think that's the idea.

great players in that pipeline, but coming up from the OHL and from overseas. So I just, of course, like we all want immediate results. And I think what Mike Greer did at the trade deadline showed that they are committed to the long game. For sure, they could have kind of stacked the team and made them more viable sooner. But I don't think that's the idea.

The idea is to get a Stanley Cup championship team.

The idea is to get a Stanley Cup championship team.

You are asking the wrong person. I don't know. I mean, they looked so strong this year. I think if there was a year, it could have been this one. So honestly, I don't know.

You are asking the wrong person. I don't know. I mean, they looked so strong this year. I think if there was a year, it could have been this one. So honestly, I don't know.

But this is another one of those like I don't I don't want to be all woo woo, but they're cursed, you know, so they're cursed against this team. So, yeah, I don't know. I don't know what I don't know what their plans are. They also have some young talent, but yeah, things are going to have to look a little different next year, I think.

But this is another one of those like I don't I don't want to be all woo woo, but they're cursed, you know, so they're cursed against this team. So, yeah, I don't know. I don't know what I don't know what their plans are. They also have some young talent, but yeah, things are going to have to look a little different next year, I think.

Yeah, I agree. I mean, there's so much momentum behind the Florida Panthers. And if you've watched any of their games this year, I mean, that's a really intense, gritty team. So I wouldn't put anything past them. And they are favored at this point to take the Stanley Cup home again. I mean, I guess it's just it was a numbers game. You know, Tampa finished higher in the standings.

Yeah, I agree. I mean, there's so much momentum behind the Florida Panthers. And if you've watched any of their games this year, I mean, that's a really intense, gritty team. So I wouldn't put anything past them. And they are favored at this point to take the Stanley Cup home again. I mean, I guess it's just it was a numbers game. You know, Tampa finished higher in the standings.

They've got Vasilevsky. They got Kucherov. So maybe they just sort of look a little bit better on paper. And obviously they've had more, you know, two back to back Stanley Cups. So but no, I wouldn't have bet against the Florida Panthers. Not for a second.

They've got Vasilevsky. They got Kucherov. So maybe they just sort of look a little bit better on paper. And obviously they've had more, you know, two back to back Stanley Cups. So but no, I wouldn't have bet against the Florida Panthers. Not for a second.

I mean, yes, we knew Mike Sullivan was not going to be unemployed for very long. Listen, his time had run out in Pittsburgh, but it didn't say anything about him as a coach. It's just, you know, that room was tired, I guess. I think it's a great move. I think he's certainly among the best coaches in the game. So good on them. They got the money, honey. They're going to get the guy.

I mean, yes, we knew Mike Sullivan was not going to be unemployed for very long. Listen, his time had run out in Pittsburgh, but it didn't say anything about him as a coach. It's just, you know, that room was tired, I guess. I think it's a great move. I think he's certainly among the best coaches in the game. So good on them. They got the money, honey. They're going to get the guy.

Thanks, guys.

Thanks, guys.